7 Present Simple Negative

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Introduction

The present simple is the tense used to express permanent situations or events that regularly repeat or always occur.

When expressed in its negative form, the verb denies something about the subject.

Form

The present simple, in its negative form, has this structure:
Subject + do/does + not + verb + …

  • Do/does: the third person singular changes from do to does;
  • Verb: the base form of the verb is the same (without any changes);
  • Irregular verb to be: I am not – you aren’t – he isn’t…
Subject do/does + not Verb Short form
I do not work don’t
You do not work don’t
He does not work doesn’t
She does not work doesn’t
It does not work doesn’t
We do not work don’t
You do not work don’t
They do not work don’t

Example

  1. Planned future
    • I don’t start my new job on the 17th of June.
    • The exam period doesn’t end on the 24th of December.
    • Their daughter doesn’t arrive in a few days.
  2. Timetables
    • The train doesn’t leave at 7 o’ clock.
    • The match doesn’t start at 9 o’clock tomorrow.
    • My exams don’t start at 10 o’clock tomorrow.
  3. Habits/Routines
    • I don’t usually wake up at 8 o’clock.
    • He doesn’t go to the gym twice a week.
    • We don’t go to good restaurants for lunch.
  4. Facts
    • The sun doesn’t rise in the West.
    • Water doesn’t boil at 80°C.
    • Unicorns don’t exist.
  5. Permanent situations
    • I don’t live in Brussels.
    • She doesn’t work in a supermarket.
    • They don’t play football.
  6. Promises…
    • I don’t promise to buy you a new phone.
    • He doesn’t swear he’ll go to the doctor.
    • I don’t promise I’ll give you my phone number.
  7. Giving directions and instructions
    • You don’t go straight but you turn left.
    • You don’t restart your mobile phone.
    • You don’t go upstairs.
  8. Completed actions that happen as we speak
    • The brigades don’t disappear.
    • The police don’t catch the thief.
    • Real Madrid doesn’t recover from two goals down.
  9. Informal narrative
    • The Beast doesn’t transform into a prince.
    • Snow White doesn’t fall asleep.
    • Little Red Riding-Hood doesn’t meet the wolf.

Use

Present simple, in its negative form, is used to deny something about:

  1. Planned future (planned events with given exact date);
  2. Timetables (planned events with given exact time);
  3. Habits/routines (something that happens repeatedly in the present);
  4. Facts (things that are generally true, stated);
  5. Permanent situations (that have been happening for a while and will be happening in the future);
  6. Promises;
  7. Instructions (orders);
  8. Completed actions that happen as we speak (commentaries);
  9. Informal narrative (when telling a story).

Summary

We use the present simple, in its negative form, to deny situations that regularly, repeatedly or always occur.

The structure is:
Subject + do/does + not + verb + … (does for the third person singular)

For example:
— “I don’t live in a small flat.” = We use the present simple to express a permanent situation.
— “The train doesn’t leave at 6.” = We use the present simple to refer to a timetable.
— “Water doesn’t boil at 70 degrees Celsius.” = We use the present simple to express a fact.

NOTE: The verb to be is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the general formation rule for the negative form, and we just add not after the verb.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

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